Air conditioner



Feb. 1.3, 1940. c. H. NEIMAN 2,190,242

l l AIR GONDITIONER Filed July, 1939 2 Shets-sheet 1 DISCHARGE. FOR.,54, REURCULATEZD AHL coNDENsLR, Anl..

OUTSIDE, AIL INLET CONDLNSBR., AIL n DISCHARGE. lNLET FOR, 3% 27ou'rsma. A111 To CONDENSER.,

Feb. 13, 1940. C, H, NElMAN 2,190,242

AIRi CONDITIONER Filed July 8, 1939 2 Sheets-'Shet 2 INLET Fok ousmzAna, TO CON SER.,

GONDENSBK Am DISCHARGLAHE' 28 IEHZ OUTSIDE, A12.,

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46 l oUTsxDE. A112J Bmw FILTE :inventor RECIRCULATED AIR, @LU/ZXsiderable complication.

iatented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES AIR CONDITIONER Charles H. Neiman,York; Pa., assignor to York Ice Machinery Corporation, York, Pa, acorporation of Delaware ApplicationlJuly 8, 1939, Serial No. 283,492

6r Claims.

ports, one'aiording a supply connection and the other affording adischarge connection for the condenser air circuit. The air entering thesupply connection flows to the lower portion of the conditioner unit,absorbs heat from the compressor and its driving motor and then enters acirculating fan which discharges it in heat exchanging relation with thecondenser to the out-l let connection. Thus, the condenser air circuitdraws air from out of doors, passes it through the lower portion of theconditioner housing and Areturns it out of doors. 'I'here is a whollyseparate /air circuit which draws some or all of its yair from the room,passes it through a filter, then in heat exchanging relation with theevaporator of the refrigerating unit, and delivers the air to the room.It is desirable to deliver to this circuit a regulable amount of freshair and one `of the features of the present invention is a constructionsuch that this air is drawn from `out of doors through an independentport in thev window board and is caused to pass through the same inletand through the same air filter as does air drawn from the room.

In installing devices of this sort, it is desirable to use astandardized window board. Since the height of the window sill above thefloor is subject to considerable variation, according to the design ofthe building, some means must be provided to afford a vverticallyadjustable connection between the window board and the casing of theunit. While this is a relatively simple matter, so far as the condenserair circuit is concerned, the need for providing for fresh air for theroom circuit has heretofore introduced con- Recourse has usually beenhad to a damper arranged between the condenser air inlet and the roomair. circuit. It is difficult to nd space for such a damper and thereare incidental objections involving pres'- sure diierentials between thetwo air circuits which render this scheme undesirable.

The present invention provides a very simple arrangement in which theair connections are vertically adjustable. To produce the .desiredresult the window duct which connects with the window board isvertically adjustable relatively to the conditioner and so arranged asto deliver fresh'air to the same inlet port and to the same air filterwhich receive re-circulated air from the room.

The construction provides vertical adjustment through a 'considerablerange. In all of its adjusted positions, the window duct exposes thesame total area of the room circuit inletfilter to re-circulated air andto fresh air supplied through a portion of the window duct unit.

Because no part of the adjustable inlet con* nection may project abovethe top of the unit, recourse is had to small ller pieces of insulatingboard which are cut to size at the time of installation. These are sodimensioned as to close the interval between the duct and the top of theunit on each side of the room circuit inlet. The intervals between thewindow duct and the casing on each side of the room air inlet below thewindow duct are closed by pendant portions of the adjustable window ductmember. Consequently, all that is necessary in installing the unit is toset the window duct to the proper height, insert filler pieces of theproper dimension and connect the unit with the Window board.

This provides an ideal arrangement as to air circulation, permits thefresh air damper to be mounted in the fresh air passage in the windowduct and so -directs this air that a single filter is used for both thefresh and the re-circulated air. i p

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described inconection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation of the upper portion of the rear of theunit showing the window duct in an intermediate position a few inchesabove the lowest position to which it is adjustable.

Figure 2 is a plan view partly broken away to showlthe interiorconstruction of the window duct.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the window duct and the rear ofthe unit as they would appear if the window duct were swung away fromits normal position and the filter partly withdrawn from its guides.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective of the window duct showing thefresh air damper about half-way open.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the duct in thelowermost position to which it may be adjusted.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the window duct adjusted to anintermediate position such as that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the window duct adjusted to thehighest position it may assume.

' In all the views, the external ornamental casing .which covers thefront, top and sides of the unit, but not the back, is. omitted. Thiscasing merelyencloses the insulated metal housing of the unit proper andsince it has no function in connection with the present invention, thereis no occasion to illustrate it. Similarly, the window board, whichmight assume any one of a number of known forms, is omitted from thedrawings. Such window boards have long been well-known in the art andany window board which could connect with the Window duct here describedmay be used. All that the window board does is to provide a portedclosure beneath the lower sash of the window, and its particular form isimmaterial so long as it provides a port or slot whose height and widthconform to the corresponding dimensions of the end of the window duct.

Referring first to Figure 3, II represents the sheet metal housing ofthe unit roper and I2 is a removable back plate which ives access to thecompressor, the motor which drives the samel the condenser, a condenserfan, and other standf ard components of units of this general type.Since the form `and arrangement of these parts is subject to widevariation, no attemp-t at illustration is made.

Mounted vertically above the back plate I2 and extending to the top of-the unit are two vertical channel guides I3 which terminate in a slotformed in the upper wall of the housing I I. Into these guides isinserted a rectangular filter element I4 which may be o-f the oil-coatedscreen type. The space between the guides I3, i. e., the entire area. ofthe lter I4, is the inlet tothe room air circuit. 'I'his inlet leads tothe interior of avconical housing I5 (see Fig; 2) terminatingr in ashroud ring I6 xed in the center of a crosspartition II.

Forward of the partition I1 is the evaporator I8 of the refrigeratingcircuit. A fan I9 driven by an electric motor 2| is centered within theshroud ring I6 and operates to draw air through the filter I4, force itinto contact with the nned -evaporator coil I8 and thence into a plenumchamber 22. From the `plenum chamber 22, the air which has been cooledan`d dehumidified by passage over coil I8 is discharged into the room.In the particular machine illustrated in the drawings, the discharge isthrough the top of the housing II. So far as the present invention isconcerned, the location of the discharge opening is wholly immaterialprovided it delivers air to the room.

The condenser cooling air enters through the opening 23 outside theconical housing I5, ows downward over the compressor, thence enters thecondenser cooling fan which forces it in heat exchange relation with thecondenser, and then flows upward to and discharges through the condenserair'discharge opening 24.

Vertically adjustable in guides 25 Iand 26 is the multiple ported windowduct element 2'I. The guides 25 and 26 are clamped to the housing II byscrews' 28. The guides are so dimensioned that when the screws are setup the guides' serve also as clamps land fix the window duct element 21in its vertically adjusted position. The Window duct element 21 has a.flat .face which seats against the rear of the conditioner unit and hastwo pendant portions 29 which overlap the plate I2 and which are sealedthereto by any suitable gasket material such as sponge rubber. To avoidconfusion in the drawings, no attempt is made to illustrate the spongerubber as a separate element but it is to be understood that it iscemented over the rear faces of the members 29 and over rear faces ofthe marginal frames 3| of the window duct element 21. Thus, when theduct is clamped in position, a reasonably airtight seal is providedbetween the window duct element 2I and the conditioner unit housing II.

The window duct element 2'I provides three passages, namely, thecondenser air inlet passage 32 which leads to the opening 23; acondenser air discharge passage 33 which leads from the opening 24; anda fresh air inlet passage 34 which, at its inner end, is coextensive inwidth with the guides I3 and seals therewith.

Because the fresh air inlet need not be large, an oiset indicated at 35is provided in the partition between the ducts 32 and 34. This gives a.

large entrance aperture for outside condenser air and affords arelatively narrow inlet for fresh air to be supplied to the roomcircuit. This inlet is controlled by a damper 36 which is hinged at itsupper edge to a portion of the window duct by means of a spring hinge 3lwhich urges the damper 36 in a closing direction. The outer end of theduct member 21 is provided with an offset at 38 designed to mate withthe aperture in the window board. This oiset serves as a flange or jambagainst which the lower edge of the damper 36 seats when fully closed.

The damper may be drawn ope'n and latched in any desired open orpartially open position by means of a bead chain 39 which passes througha key hole slot 4I in the top of the Window duct and may be engaged withthe narrow portion of the slot by moving the chain laterally after ithas been drawn upward. v

Assuming a window having a. very low sill, the window duct might be setin its lowermost position as shown in Figure 5. In this position thelower margin of the duct registers approximately with the lower marginof the air ports in the back of the unit. This would leave openings fromthe room leading above the window duct unit to the condenser inletopening 23 and the condenser discharge opening 24. 'Ihese openings areclosed by inserts 45 which are engaged at the lower v edges behind theflange 46 on the top of the win'- dow'duct element. l

At their tops the inserts enter behind a ang 4'I provided with a rubbergasket 48. The gasket is U-shaped in cross section as shown in Figures 5to 7 inclusive. engaged by a guide 26 and the other overlaps theguideway I3 and seals therewith. These inserts are made of brittleinsulating board which may be scored to the desired dimensions andwhich, when scored, may be bro-ken readily onthe score lines. 1

In the average case, the proper position of the window duct will be anintermediate one as indicated in Figures 1 and 6, in which event theinserts 45 are of somewhat different dimensions but otherwise identicalwith similar inserts shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 7, the highest position of the window duct is illustrated. Insuch case, the inserts 45 are not required because the top of the ductseats against the gasket 48.

It will be observed that In all adjusted posi- One side edge of eachinsert tions of the window duct element the pendant portions 29 areeffective to close the condenser inlet opening 23 and the condenserdischarge opening 24 below the window duct element.

In all positions, the fresh air inlet passage 34 delivers to a portionof the filter I4, the area of which portion is fixed. In the adjustmentof Figure 5, all the recirculated air enters the unit above the windowduct, whereas in the position of Figure 7 it'all enters below thewindowduct. In the usual case of intermediate adjustment illustrated inFigure 6, a part of the recirculated air enters above and a part belowthe window duct.

The invention affords a very simple adjustment which will adapt a givenunit to windows having different heights of sill. In all of these, thefresh air duct leads directly from out of doors to the iilter I4 and thetotal inlet area to the room air circuit is constant except to theextent that it may be varied by adjusting the fresh air damper 36.

It follows that the unit operates in the same way regardless of thevertical adjustment of the window duct. Since the fresh air is takendirectly from out of doors and not from the condenser air circuit, theadjustment of the fresh air damper has no effect on the condensercooling air fiow and possible pressure differentials are not disturbing.

After the window board is in place and the window duct has been adjustedto proper height, the whole conditioner unit may be rolled away from itsnormal operating position for the purpose of window washing or the like.The unit is customarily mounted on casters for this purpose. Theconditioner may be readily reconnected with the window board by rollingthe unit. back to place.

The filter `I4 is accessible for removal and replacement after removingthe ornamental housing (not shown) and withdrawing the filter from itsguides as indicated in Figure 3.

An important incidental advantage of locating the recirculated air inletin the rear wall of the unit arises from the fact that heating radiatorsare usually located under windows. Room coolers in which the presentinvention is embodied are commonly mounted in front of such radiators,and include means for running the room circuit fan I9 alone. In thewinter the unit can be used as a circulating ventilator, drawing roomair from a point immediately in front of the heating radiator, togetherwith a regulable percentage of outdoor air, mixing the two anddelivering the mixture to the room.

While it is preferable to locate the fresh air inlet opening between theother two openings, because this makes it conveniently possible tolocate the room discharge opening at the top or front of the cabinet,other arrangements are possible, and in some instances, it will be founddesirable to locate the fresh air inlet opening otherwise. Forexampleythe fresh air opening might be at one end, the condenserdischarge atthe other, and the condenser inlet between. Such anarrangement would have the advantage of separating the fresh air inletas widely as possible from the condenser discharge. An important reasonfor using separate fresh air ductsfor the condenser air circuit and theroom air circuit is to assure that the large condenser Ifan. cannot drawall the entering fresh air. duct also offers a convenient location forthe fresh air damper.

Thus, while one embodiment of the invention The separate has beendescribed in considerable detail, it should be understood that theparticular construction of the window duct is affected to some degree bydetails of the design of the unit with which it is to be used.Consequently, the de scription here given should be taken asillustrative and not limiting. The scope of the invention will bedefined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a conditioner having an enclosing wall providedwith a room circuit air inlet opening and separate inlet and dischargeopenings for condenser air; a duct element whose vertical dimension isless than that of said openings, said element being verticallyadjustable re1- ati-vely to said walland having ducts adapted to afforddistinct communications fromk said discharge opening and to said inletopenings; means for fixing said duct element in adjusted position; andmeans for closing portions of said condenser air openings both above andbelow said duct element.

2. The combination of a conditioner having an enclosing wall providedwith a room circuit air ,inlet opening and separate inlet and dischargeopenings for condenser air; a duct element whose vertical dimension isless than that of said openings, said element being verticallyadjustable relatively to said wall and having ducts adapted to afforddistinct communications from said discharge opening and to said inletopenings; means for fixing said duct element in adjusted positions;means carried by said duct element for closing such portions of saidcondenser air openings as are below the lower margin. of the ductelement proper; and inserts arranged to close portions of the condenserair openings above the upper margin of the duct element.

3. The combination of a conditioner having an enclosing wallprovidedwith a ro'om circuit air inlet opening and separate inlet and dischargeopenings for condenser air; a duct element whose vertical dimension isless than that of said openings, said element being verticallyadjustable relatively to said wall and having three distinct ducts eachpositioned to aline horizontally with a corresponding opening; anadjustable damper in the duct which leads to the room air inlet opening;means for fixing said duct element in adjusted positions; and means forclosingthe portions of said condenser air openings above and below saidduct element.

4. The combination of a conditioner having I an enclosing wall providedwith three horizontally alined openings of substantially equal j height,one of said openings being an inlet opening for the room air circuit andthe other two being respectively inlet and discharge openings ,Y

means for closing the exposed portions of the l condenser air circuitopenings.'v

5.' The combination defined in claim 4 in which at least a portion ofthe means for closing the exposed kportions of the condenser airopenings 2,190,22 is carried by and adjustable with said duct eleelementwhose vertical dimension is less than that of said openings, said ductelement being vertically adjustable relatively to said wall and havingthree ducts adapted to communicate with said openings; an adjustabledamperin the duct which communicates with the room circuit air inletopening; means for xing said duct element in adjusted positions; andmeans for closing those portions of the condenser'air circuit openingswhich are exposed by said duct element. 10

CHARLES H. NEIMAN.

